Religious leaders issue 'Shoulder-to-Shoulder' statement,
standing with American Muslims during House hearings

Washington, March 10, 2011 -- More than 25 religious
leaders from Christian, Jewish, Sikh, Muslim and other organizations
issued a statement today, saying they stood "shoulder-to-shoulder against
extremism of all kinds in support of American values."

Signatories included the general secretary and heads of
member communions of the National Council of Churches.

The text of the statement follows:

Shoulder-to-Shoulder

Religious Leaders Stand
Shoulder-to-Shoulder Against Extremism of All Kinds in Support of American
Values

Washington, DC—March
10, 2011

As American religious leaders, we share a deep sense of
obligation to call upon our fellow citizens to treat each other with
compassion and honesty, and to foster an ethical commitment to bedrock
American values such as pluralism and religious freedom, mutuality and
respect—values also at the core of our religious traditions.

As the
House Committee on Homeland Security convenes hearings on the putative
“radicalization” of American Muslims, our obligation takes on renewed
urgency. We gather together to affirm that we stand united with all
Americans in urging our elected representatives to act—not against a single,
unfairly maligned group, but against all forms of violence and extremism
that endanger our security. As spiritual leaders and people of faith, we
call on the United States Congress, elected officials at every level of
government, and all American citizens not to perpetuate damaging false
witness against our neighbors. Instead, we encourage all communities
of faith and people of good will throughout this country, to stand
shoulder-to-shoulder in communities of growing awareness, trust and hope.

All of our faith communities share a powerful prohibition
against bearing false witness, with the understanding that destroying a
person’s reputation is tantamount to destroying his or her life. To assert
that Muslims as a broad group are not deeply devoted to
America’s safety and the peaceful
interaction of its entire citizenry – that is false witness. By subjecting
American Muslims to such scrutiny, we weaken our more perfect union, and we
harm the national vision of our common good that is a witness to the
nations. We encourage all citizens of this country to honor freedoms
guaranteed by our Constitution that enable the free exercise of religion
across our great land.

Far from a “radicalized” fringe
group, Muslims are woven into the American tapestry. Muslims serve as
teachers and factory workers, doctors and lawyers, social service volunteers
and loving parents. They serve proudly and with distinction in the
military and FBI, on police forces and in fire departments, and in all
branches of the US armed services next to soldiers of all faiths, many
having given their lives for our country. In these and other
vocations, Muslims work hard, give back to their communities, and worship in
peace. The Muslim community’s clergy work closely with the leaders of our
nation’s other faith groups where we study our sacred texts together, pray
together, and join hands to address issues of shared concern, such as
homelessness, drug abuse, and violence against women.

The rationale for these hearings
rests on an assertion that the American Muslim community has failed to
support American law enforcement in its efforts against terrorism.
This assertion is false. A study by Duke
University
indicated that “the largest single source of initial information” in helping
prevent terrorist attacks were members of the Muslim community. In
fact, the American Muslim community is deeply engaged in preventing
terrorism. We regret that the Committee on Homeland Security held such
a hearing today with specific focus on the Muslim community, and in the
future we encourage its Members to listen not only to the voices of Muslim
Americans and the law enforcement community, but also to witnesses from
other faith communities, leaders who can stand up for the good character and
ethical behavior of their Muslim brothers and sisters. It is
unfortunate that Chairman King did not call any law enforcement experts to
testify to the claims he has made.

As faith leaders, we are committed to building a future
in which extremism is an artifact of the past, and where religious identity
is not the cause of hostility but of acceptance. This country’s
spiritual, religious and ethnic diversity serves to enrich our public
discourse. When our public discourse is enriched, extremism is seldom
given quarter.

We urge the members of our government as well as citizens
of good will to refrain from passing judgment on religious or faith groups
based on the actions of the few who pervert their spiritual traditions
through acts of violence and hostile rhetoric. We believe that politicians,
cultural figures and members of the media are never justified in exploiting
religious differences in order to advance ideological or political aims. Our
leaders in Congress and the Administration must stand up and speak out
against these hearings – hearings that perpetuate misrepresentations and
harm our country rather than lead it to greater awareness and a strengthened
citizenry.

Spiritual leaders have a moral responsibility and a
sacred calling to categorically denounce derision, misinformation or
outright bigotry directed against anyone, regardless of faith community.
Silence is not an option. Only by taking a stand together can we fulfill the
highest calling of our respective faiths, and thereby play a role in
building a safer, more secure
America.

Shoulder-to-Shoulder: Standing
with American Muslims; Upholding American Values is a campaign of national faith-based organizations
and religious denominations to promote tolerance and put an end to
anti-Muslim bigotry.

Signatories:

Members of the Shoulder-to-Shoulder Steering Committee

Dr. Roy Medley

General Secretary, American Baptist Churches USA

Dr. James Zogby

President, The Arab American Institute

The Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins

General Minister and President, Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ)

Director, Department of Multifaith Studies and
Initiatives, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College

Rabbi Sid Schwarz

Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association and

Director, Faith and the Common Good (a project of Auburn
Theological Seminary)

Mr. Mark J. Pelavin

Director, Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism

Associate Director, Religious Action Center of Reform
Judaism

Rev. Jim Wallis

CEO and President, Sojourners

Rev. Peter Morales,

President, Unitarian Universalist Association of
Congregations

The Rev. Geoffrey Black

General Minister and President, The United Church of
Christ

Mr. Jim Winkler

General Secretary, General Board of Church and Society of
the United Methodist Church

Additional signatories

Rev. Dr. Carroll A. Baltimore, Sr.

President, The Progressive National Baptist Convention,
Inc.

Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley

Co-Chair, The Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta

Dr. Tarunjit Singh Butalia

Secretary General, World Sikh Council-America Region

Since its founding in 1950, the National Council of
the Churches of Christ in the USA has been the leading force for
shared ecumenical witness among Christians in the United States. The NCC's
37 member communions -- from a wide spectrum of Protestant, Anglican,
Orthodox, Evangelical, historic African American and Living Peace
churches -- include 45 million persons in more than 100,000 local
congregations in communities across the nation.